Then the spirit of his father came upon the young captain of the guard.  He knew that he had only done his duty in its strictness, and he boldly answered the Earl:  “Nay, my lord, were it not for courtesy, I have more right to ask you that question.  Your sister hath been frighted, and at sound of her terror all we who were dispersed throughout the castle rushed to the spot.  As I came down the stairs from the roof at speed, I saw something like to a great wolf about to descend the turret before me.  With my sword I struck at it, and to all appearance wounded it.  It vanished, and after searching the castle I can find neither wolf nor dog.  But I saw, as it seemed, a figure enter this room, and upon opening it I find—­the Earl of Douglas.  That is all I know, and I leave the matter in my lord’s own hands.”

The haughty look gradually disappeared from the face of the Earl as Sholto spoke.

Smilingly he dismissed the guard with a word, saying that he would inquire into the cause of the disturbance in person, and then turned to Sholto.

“You are right,” he said, “you have entirely done your duty and justified my appointment.”

He paused, looked this way and that along the corridor, and continued: 

“It chanced that in the tower without I could not sleep, and feeling uneasy concerning my guests, I entered the castle by the private door and staircase which leads into the apartment corresponding to this on the floor beneath.  I was assuring myself that you were doing your duty when, being disturbed by the sudden hubbub, and judging it needless that the men-at-arms should know of my presence in the castle, I came in hither till the matter should have blown over.  And so, but for your good conscience and the keenness of your vision, the matter would have ended.”

Sholto bowed coldly.

“But, my lord,” he said, ignoring the Earl’s explanation, “the matter grows more mysterious than ever.  Your sister, the little Lady Margaret, hath been grievously frighted by an appearance like a great beast which (so she affirms) opened the door of her chamber and looked within.”

“She but dreamed,” said the Earl, carelessly; “such visions come from supping late.”

“But, with all respect, your lordship,” continued Sholto, “I also saw the appearance even as I ran down the stairs from the roof at the noise of her crying.”

“You were startled—­excited, and but thought you saw.”

Sholto reversed his sword, which he had held with the point towards the ground while he was speaking with his lord the Earl.

Holding the blade midway with much deference, he presented the hilt to William Douglas.

“Will you examine the point of this sword?” he said.

The Earl came a step nearer to him and Sholto advanced the steel till it was immediately beneath the lamp.  There was blood upon the last inch or so of the blade.  The Earl suddenly became violently agitated.